Header pipe evaporator for use in an automobile

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a header pipe for a vehicle evaporator capable of decreasing the number of assembling processes of a header pipe and minimizing/preventing a refrigerant leakage at a junction portion after elements are brazed for thereby achieving a simpler construction. In the present invention, a vehicle evaporator is provided with a header pipe, comprising a tank part and a header part forming an integral structure wherein a partition wall partitioning a refrigerant flow path space of the tank part, a partition plate for changing a refrigerant flow path at the tank part, and caps for covering the openings of both sides of the tank part are assembled in a structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention applies to the technology of an evaporator being a constituent of an air conditioning system for use in an automobile, and more precisely—to a header pipe used at the connection point with the end portion of a tube through which the refrigerant flows in an evaporator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention applies to the technology of an evaporator being a constituent of an air conditioning system for use in an automobile, and more precisely—to a header pipe used at the connection point with the end portion(s) of a tube(s) through which the refrigerant flows in an evaporator.

An evaporator, being a commonly used constituent of an air conditioning system for use in an automobile, wherein numerous tubes through which the refrigerant flows, and heat transfer fins form its core, and each tube's end part connects through the header pipe into a structure.

The attached FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the above, wherein the heat transfer fins (110) inserted into numerous tubes (120) are arranged to form the core (100); on both ends of the core (100) there is pair of header pipes (200,200′) installed; in one header pipe (200′) of the two header pipes (200,200′) there are refrigerant pipes (310,320) for refrigerant inflow and outflow, the pipes being connected with an adaptor (400). Specifically, the header pipe (200), as the lower elements illustrated in FIG. 1 show, is composed of a tank part (210) that forms the refrigerant flow path space where the refrigerant flows, and the tubes (120′) end parts which are formed to connect to numerous through-holes (221), and a plate-type header part (220) covering the space of the said tank part (210), a partition wall (230) dividing the refrigerant flow path space inside the tank part (210), with the partition wall (230) having numerous connecting through-holes (231); a partition plate (240) for changing the refrigerant flow path, with the partition plate (240) being inserted at the middle part of the tank part (210); and the partition wall (230) being connected at the both end portions of the tank part (210), with the caps (250,250′) closing the openings at each end portion of the tank part (210). Moreover, the prior art header pipe (200) comprising a tank part (210), a header part (220), a partition wall (230), a partition plate (240) and caps (250,250′), after the separate parts being assembled, is realized by brazing with the use of clad material at the connection portions. However, before such brazing process is applied to each part, the assembly of the parts has to be completed and thus the number of assembly processes is increased, which negatively affects productivity and raises costs. In addition, if there are any incompletely connected parts due to some brazed portions being left uncoated with the clad material after the individual parts were assembled, there is a danger of a decrease in the evaporator's performance due to refrigerant leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is designed to solve the problems as described above, therefore the objective is to decrease the number of assembling processes with regard to the individual parts being constituents of a header pipe, and to minimize or prevent refrigerant leakage at the connecting portions after brazing of individual parts, and to provide a simpler design of a header pipe for an evaporator for use in an automobile.

According to the present invention aimed at achieving the above-mentioned objective, a header pipe of an evaporator for use in an automobile is realized by a tank part and the header part tube being formed as an integral part, wherein a partition wall that divides a refrigerant flow path space of the said tank part, a partition plate that changes of the refrigerant flow path in the said tank part, and caps that close the openings at both ends of the said tank part are assembled into a structure.

At the connecting portion of the said tank part and the said header part the structure can be formed as a rounding portion.

Moreover, the said partition wall, partition plate and the caps can be brazed with the integral structure of the said tank part and the header part with the use of paste.

In addition, a rail groove for slide-inserting the partition wall can be formed in the said tank part and the said header part, respectively, and an insertion groove for receiving the partition plate can be formed at the tank part.

Also, the said partition wall can be inserted into the integral structure of the said tank part and the header part, and the partition plate can be assembled to the inserted partition wall, and the cap can be assembled to the opening of both ends of the tank part, and the partition wall, the partition plate and the caps are brazed with the integral structure of the said tank part and the header part using a clad material.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the entire specification, including the appended claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the separate elements of an example of a prior art evaporator;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the separate elements of a header pipe according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the right-side end portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a partition wall partially inserted into the header pipe of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an assembled header pipe of the present invention with an end cap removed; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the right-side end portion of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The attached FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 present, respectively, this invention's header pipe appearance in a perspective view of separate parts, assembling perspective view, and a perspective view of a nearly completed assembly; while FIGS. 3 and 6 present perspective views of the right-side end portions of FIGS. 2 and 5, respectively.

As shown on the illustrations, this invention's header pipe is realized, wherein the tank part (10) having the refrigerant flow path space where the refrigerant flows, and the header part (20) form a tube body, the header part (20) covering the tank part (10)'s flow path space and having numerous through-holes (21) for connecting the end portions of the refrigerant tubes (not shown); the tank part (10) and the header part (20) are formed into an integral structure by extrusion or other method. In particular, by forming a rounding portion (R) at the connecting portion of the tank part (10) and the header part (20), joined into an integral structure, the flow of the refrigerant through the header pipe can be achieved more smoothly. Moreover, this invention's header pipe can be formed into a structure by assembling the partition wall (30) that divides the refrigerant flow path space within the tank part (10), the partition plate (40) that alters the refrigerant flow paths in the designated part of the tank part (10)'s space, and the caps (50,50′) as devices closing the openings at both ends of the tank part (10). The partition wall (30), the partition plate (40) and the caps (50,50′) can be connected to the integral structure of the tank part (10) and the header part (20) by attaching a binder to the clad material and brazing with liquefied paste. Alternatively, the partition wall (30) can be constructed by insertion into the integral structure of the tank part (10) and the header part (20), with the partition plate (40) assembled into the inserted partition wall (30), and the caps (50,50′) assembled onto the openings on both ends of the tank part (10), wherein the partition wall (30), the partition plate (40) and the caps (50,50′) can be connected to the integral structure of the tank part (10) and the header part (20) by brazing using a clad material. In addition, as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, there are rail grooves (11,22) for insertion of the partition wall (30) into the tank part (10) and the header part (20), thus the rail grooves (11,22) are formed as rails to enable slide-insertion of the partition wall (30), and as either paste or clad material is used during brazing the connection portions and the surrounding parts of the rail grooves (11,22) and the partition wall (30), a solid connection is achieved. Also, an insertion groove (12) for placing the partition plate (40) is formed, and since either paste or clad material is used during brazing the partition plate (40) inserted into the insertion groove (12), a solid connection is achieved.

A header pipe constructed in the above-described way, due to the tank part (10) and the header part (20) being formed as an integral part, results in not only the number of assembly processes being decreased in comparison to former technology, but also in the reduction of the number of brazed parts, and thus the refrigerant leakage from the connection portion after brazing can be minimized or prevented.

As was explained above, in a header pipe of an evaporator for use in an automobile, according to the present invention, the effect of which is to decrease the number of the assembly processes, resulting in improved productivity and thus reduced costs, moreover, the phenomenon of refrigerant leakage after brazing is either minimized or prevented, which contributes to the effect of improved performance of an evaporator. 

1. A header pipe assembly for a vehicle heat exchanger, the header pipe comprising: a tank part and a header part forming an integral structure, the tank part having a refrigerant flow path space; a partition wall partitioning the refrigerant flow path space of the tank part; a partition plate for changing a refrigerant flow path in the tank part; and a pair of caps closing respective openings at each end of the tank part.
 2. The header pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein a rounding portion is formed between the tank part and the header part in the integral structure.
 3. The header pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein said partition wail, said partition plate and said cap are braze-coupled with the integral structure of the tank part and the header part using braze paste.
 4. The header pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein a rail groove for slide-inserting the partition wall therein is formed at the tank part and the header part, respectively, and an insertion groove for receiving the partition plate therein is formed at the tank part.
 5. The header pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the partition wall, the partition plate and the cap are braze-coupled with the integral structure of the tank part and the header part using a clad material. 